Energy-Saving Heat Pump Device

ABSTRACT

An energy-saving heat pump device includes first, second, third, and fourth pipes connected in sequence in a loop. A condenser is mounted between the first and second pipes. An expansion valve is mounted between the second and third pipes. An evaporator is mounted between the third and fourth pipes. A compressor is mounted between the first and fourth pipes. The compressor compresses and outputs a coolant mixture including at least two coolants. The coolant mixture in the first pipe has a pressure of 24-30 kg/cm 2 G and a temperature of 80-125° C. The coolant mixture produces heat while the coolant mixture passes through the condenser. A temperature of water outputted from the condenser is in a range of 45-98° C. The coolant mixture produces cold energy for a cooling medium of the evaporator while the coolant mixture passes through the second pipe, the expansion valve, the third pipe, and the evaporator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat pump device and, more particularly, to an energy-saving heat pump device using a coolant mixture including at least two different coolants to produce heat and cold energy.

Heat/cold energy recovery/exchange devices have been utilized in current industries and commercial businesses and generally include a compressor that outputs high pressure/high temperature gaseous coolant whose latent heat is carried away at a condenser through heat exchange to produce heat for water passing through the condenser, increasing the temperature of the water. At the same time, the gaseous coolant turns into high pressure/high temperature liquid coolant through phase change. The temperature of the liquid coolant is reduced to a supercooled state. Then, the liquid coolant passes through an evaporator to produce cold energy. The liquid coolant absorbs heat from the water (or air current) flowing through the evaporator so that the water becomes cold water or ice water. At the same time, the liquid coolant evaporates into a gaseous state and is sucked into the compressor that outputs the gaseous coolant after compression.

Although currently available heat/cold energy recovery/exchange devices can act as a water heater and a water cooler or as an air-conditioner while saving energy, the temperature of the output water after heat exchange at the condenser is not satisfactory, adversely affecting the energy-saving effect during recovery of the heat and cold energy. This is due to the use of a single coolant in operation of the compressor and the condenser, to insufficient pressure of the coolant, and to the heat change structure of the condenser. Improvement is, thus, required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An energy-saving heat pump device according to the present invention includes first, second, third, and fourth pipes connected in sequence in a loop. A coolant mixture circularly flows through the first, second, third, and fourth pipes and includes at least two coolants. A condenser is mounted between the first and second pipes. An expansion valve is mounted between the second and third pipes. An evaporator is mounted between the third and fourth pipes. A compressor is mounted between the first and fourth pipes. The compressor compresses and outputs the coolant mixture. The coolant mixture flows through the first pipe, the condenser, the second pipe, the expansion valve, the third pipe, the evaporator, and the fourth pipe and returns to the compressor. The coolant mixture in the first pipe has a pressure of 24-30 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 80-125° C. The coolant mixture produces heat while the coolant mixture passes through the condenser. A temperature of water outputted from the condenser after heat exchange is in a range of 45-98° C. The coolant mixture produces cold energy for a cooling medium of the evaporator while the coolant mixture passes through the second pipe, the expansion valve, the third pipe, and the evaporator.

In an example, the coolant mixture includes an R134a coolant of 80-99 wt % and an R245 coolant of 1-20 wt %. In another example, the coolant mixture includes an R134a coolant of 80-99 wt % and an R407 coolant of 1-20 wt %. In a further example, the coolant mixture includes an R134 coolant, an R245 coolant, and an R407 coolant.

Preferably, the coolant mixture in the first pipe has a pressure of 26-28 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 90-110° C.

The evaporator can be a water cooler, and the evaporator can be an air-conditioner.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a diagram illustrating an energy-saving heat pump device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the heat pump device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram illustrating an energy-saving heat pump device of another embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an energy-saving heat pump device according to the present invention. The energy-saving heat pump device can be used in industries, commercial businesses, and houses to provide functions of a water heater, a water cooler, or an air-conditioner. The energy-saving heat pump includes first, second, third, and fourth pipes 2, 4, 6, and 8 connected in sequence in a loop. A coolant mixture including at least two coolants circularly flows through the first, second, third, and fourth pipes 2, 4, 6, and 8. A condenser 3 is mounted between the first and second pipes 2 and 4. An expansion valve 5 is mounted between the second and third pipes 4 and 6. An evaporator 7 is mounted between the third and fourth pipes 6 and 8. A compressor 1 is mounted between the first and fourth pipes 2 and 8.

The compressor 1 compresses and outputs the coolant mixture that is a mixture of an R134a coolant and an R245 coolant or a mixture of R134a coolant and R407 coolant. The coolant mixture flows through the first pipe 2, the condenser 3, the second pipe 4, the expansion valve 5, the third pipe 6, the evaporator 7, and the fourth pipe 8 and returns to the compressor 1. The procedure repeats. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the condenser 3 is a water heater, and the evaporator 7 is a water cooler.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the coolant mixture in the first pipe 2 has a pressure of 24-30 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 80-125° C. The coolant mixture produces heat for the heating medium (water) 9 of the condenser 3 while the coolant mixture passes through the condenser 3. A temperature of water outputted from the condenser 13 after heat exchange is in a range of 45-98° C. to meet the actual needs. The coolant mixture produces cold energy for a cooling medium (cold water) 10 of the evaporator 7 while the coolant mixture passes through the second pipe 4, the expansion valve 5, the third pipe 6, and the evaporator 7. Thus, the cold water can turn into ice water or at least have a lower temperature.

In an example, the coolant mixture can include an R134a coolant of 80-99 wt % and an R245 coolant of 1-20 wt %. In another example, the coolant mixture includes an R134a coolant of 80-99 wt % and an R407 coolant of 1-20 wt %. In a further example, the coolant mixture includes an R134 coolant, an R245 coolant, and an R407 coolant. The heat pump device can significantly improve the energy saving effect and can be used as a water heater and a water cooler or used as an air-conditioner, providing enhanced utility.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the coolant mixture in the first pipe preferably has a pressure of 26-28 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 90-110° C. In a case that the input water of the condenser 3 is at a normal temperature, the output water temperature can be as high as 45-98° C. The coolant mixture in the second pipe 4 has a pressure of 24-26 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 40-85° C. The coolant mixture in the third pipe 6 has a pressure of 1.0-3.0 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 2° C. The coolant mixture in the fourth pipe 8 has a pressure of 1.0-3.0 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 2-7° C.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the compressor 1 compresses and outputs the coolant mixture. The coolant mixture flows through the first pipe 2, the condenser 3, the second pipe 4, the expansion valve 5, the third pipe 6, the evaporator 7, and the fourth pipe 8 and returns to the compressor 1. The evaporator 11 cooperates with a fan 13 to form an air-conditioner so that the coolant mixture produces cold energy for the cooling medium (air) 12 of the evaporator 11.

The coolant mixture outputted by the compressor 1 has a pressure of 24-30 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 80-125° C. to produce heat through the condenser 3. A temperature of the water outputted from the condenser 3 after heat exchange is in a range of 45-98° C. The coolant mixture produces cold energy for the cooling medium 10, 12 of the evaporator 7, 11 while the coolant mixture passes through the expansion valve 5 and the evaporator 7, 11. The heat pump device can significantly improve the energy saving effect and can be used as a water heater and a water cooler or used as an air-conditioner, providing enhanced utility.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. An energy-saving heat pump device comprising: first, second, third, and fourth pipes connected in sequence in a loop, with a coolant mixture circularly flowing through the first, second, third, and fourth pipes, with the coolant mixture including at least two coolants; a condenser mounted between the first and second pipes; an expansion valve mounted between the second and third pipes; an evaporator mounted between the third and fourth pipes; and a compressor mounted between the first and fourth pipes, with the compressor compressing and outputting the coolant mixture, with the coolant mixture flowing through the first pipe, the condenser, the second pipe, the expansion valve, the third pipe, the evaporator, and the fourth pipe and returning to the compressor, with the coolant mixture in the first pipe having a pressure of 24-30 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 80-125° C., with the coolant mixture producing heat while the coolant mixture passes through the condenser, with a temperature of water outputted from the condenser after heat exchange being in a range of 45-98° C., with the coolant mixture producing cold energy for a cooling medium of the evaporator while the coolant mixture passes through the second pipe, the expansion valve, the third pipe, and the evaporator.
 2. The energy-saving heat pump device as claimed in claim 1, with the at least two coolants including an R134a coolant of 80-99 wt % and an R245 coolant of 1-20 wt %.
 3. The energy-saving heat pump device as claimed in claim 1, with the at least two coolants including an R134a coolant of 80-99 wt % and an R407 coolant of 1-20 wt %.
 4. The energy-saving heat pump device as claimed in claim 1, with the at least two coolants including an R134 coolant, an R245 coolant, and an R407 coolant.
 5. The energy-saving heat pump device as claimed in claim 2, with the coolant mixture in the first pipe having a pressure of 26-28 kg/cm²G and a temperature of 90-110° C.
 6. The energy-saving heat pump device as claimed in claim 5, with the evaporator being a water cooler.
 7. The energy-saving heat pump device as claimed in claim 5, with the evaporator being an air-conditioner. 